Medical Student by Day, Lead Volunteer by Night
When someone becomes a volunteer at the Durham Community Food Pantry, their interests can define how they help. Bag and box creation, warehouse management, food distribution, neighbor intake, and mobile food pantry support are all roles that need to be filled, there is something for everyone. But for those who stay incredibly dedicated and consistent, there’s the option to step up and become a lead volunteer. Dominic, with his forklift operator license and go getter attitude in hand, is one such example.
Dominic found his way to volunteering in August 2022, due to the tumultuous grind of medical school and the Houston Food Bank. As a medical school student, he needed something that would get him out of the textbooks and into the community. His reflection of a fond experience one year prior at the largest food bank in the nation, the Houston Food Bank, led him to the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP). The experience provided him with something tangible and consistent, exactly what he felt he needed.
As intake staff care for our neighbors in need in the lobby, volunteers like Dominic are in the back ensuring they leave with hope and a full cart of healthy groceries. Dominic talks about volunteering in a well-rounded way, emphasizing that the experience benefits both the volunteer and the communities they support. As such, it was Dominic’s outgoing and inclusive nature that led to the natural elevation of becoming a lead volunteer. He would invite classmates to volunteer, ensure all volunteers were added to the correct channels, and shared reminders to ensure the DCFP was fully staffed with volunteers on Wednesday afternoons.
“It started with a few medical school classmates inviting me to study with them Wednesday evenings. I told them I was busy. Next week, they asked again and I said I was busy once again. After the third week, they asked what I was doing every Wednesday, and I invited them to join me at the Durham Community Food Pantry. It became the perfect excuse to make new friends and invite them to a great place,” says Dominic.
One of Dominic’s favorite parts of volunteering is his fellow volunteers. He calls it a “phenomenal place to meet folks,” with many friendships extending outside the pantry. Dominic’s claim to fame is that he personally knows all the over 300 volunteers in their collective group chat!
Whether you simply want to get out of the house, get your groove back, or give back to the community, volunteering with DCFP offers all that—and you can count on Dominic to welcome you with a smile.